Snubber



R. B. FAGEoL Nov. 18,A 1930.

Original Filed Oct.

16, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTR. zi zw fama A TTORNEYS` NOV. 18, l1930. R, B, FAGEOL n 1,781,898

SNUBBER Original Filed Oct. 16, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IIII l l INV NToR. l rL'a midi TTORNEYS.

Patented Nov. l 18, .11930A MUNI-TED STATES 1 yBonnin i3, FAGEOL, or Los-ANGELES, oALiroiiNIA l kffsNUfisisEii Appiictmnfiefi'ctqber 16,'192afseriai'no. '14417,9'24iu'nenewe nemici"k 2,1; 1929.

This invention relates to vehicle spring' suspensions'- and particularly' pertains to snu'bbersY operating in' conjunction with the 1 vehicle springs. 'In the operation of vehicles 5 and particularly automobil-esin which it `is common practise tosupportthe frame upon the running gear by interposingispring therebetween, it has beenV 'found that when the wheels of the running gear suddenlysti-ikelo irregularities in the contour of the roadway, the weight ot the vehicle would tend to continiie in its general direction otj travel and will causethe springs upon which itf is supported to beV violently deiiected/lt is-intendedV 15 that the-deflection of the springs will absorb the shock and that minimum amount of itv Awill ybe transferred to the-frame. In operavti'on, however,' the deflection ofthe springsis `followed b f a rebound oi' thes arinfrs as the eo tenditorestore themselves to anormal positioneand this rebound inioarts a-violent force tothe automobile frame and body. Itis thel principal object of the present invention to 'provide a vehicleslioclr absorber or snubber which will'permit the downward deflection or" -v the springs with substantial ease, but which Y will automatically buildup resistance against' the upward rebound of the springs ina inanner to materially checlr this rebound and thus e-J increase the riding qualities of the vehicle.

rl`his resistance is built up yby'creati'ng fricltion between the leaves ofthe spring, and by Y utilizing the tendency-oi an inherently yieldable block or pad to `resistlateraldeflection.

The lattoncharacteristic offa block orpad is utilized when'vsucli block or pad is adherently or iion-slidably `mounted on a spring lea't' orV leaves so that when the leaf or leavestei'id to move endwise they are incapable of doing .J so withoutcausing lateraldeflection ofthe block. When such deflection is caused a yielding or cushioned resistance is imposedv on the act-ion of the springs, particularly on the rebound, and suoli block completely absorbs 1J minor shocks and partially absorbs major shocks. T his invention accordingly, aims both to restrict the freedoniffor relativemovement of tliev'spring leaves by setting up a yielding friction between them7 but lat the ,Jfsaine time to utilize the means tliatfcauses sorb,in whole or in the setting up ofthe vyielding friction to abpart1 the shocks applied to the vehicle spring. v

Y The present invention contemplates "the applicationlof means to-theleavesof'a- 1111115y l55 f tiple-leaf spring which will tend Atofcreatel friction between the leaves7 andy wi'll'also olfer yieldable resistance to thelongitudinal movement of the lleaves with relation to keac-li otliei. "l Y The present invention contemplates further p the application of a pad or block ofiresilient Y material'"directly'to` agleatorleaves' et' the spring so that the high coefficient of `friction betweensuch material and i'netal is made use G5 of in preventing slippiiigi'ofthe spring leal' or leaves with respect to the resilient material, whereby Whenthe leaorleaves niovefthe resilient material adjacent said leaf orfleaves moves therewith to c-aiisethefshocks V'to-be 70 cushioned or ab'sorbed'in'` theV body ofthe rre- Vsilient material. f y i The inventionfis illustrated by Way of ample'i'n the accompanying drawings,l in:` which-- Y i 'i Figure Vl is aiviewY in side lelevation show-l ing, thevehicle traineequipped' with seniielliptical front-fand Vrear springs and further `-provided with the snubbers with which; the

present invention isfconcer'ned. p

Figure 2 is an enlarged view in perspec-v `tive showingtlie iitting ofV the'snubber.'

is a View rin liront elevation disclosing the application of the-'present invention to vehicle springs ofthe Ford type.- y

`Iiigure 8 is a viewcin longitudinalsection lo ed thereto and furtherdisclosing the 35 through a form of the invention designed to be used with cars of heavy load capacity.

Figure 9 is a view in side elevation showing the structure of Figure 8, but embodying the use of a single clamping bolt on each side of the spring. 'l

Figure 410V isl awview: inrtransverse section on lineV 1O+170 throughthe Astructure shown iii Figure 8. i

Figure 11 is a view in section and side elevation showingV the applicationof-there-fv silient padto another form of siiubbeijg 4 Figure 12 is a view in side'elevation show# ing the application of the resilient p-ad toa particularly to the drawfront aXle 12and the mainv frame while a.

rear semielliptical spring 14 is here shown as interposed between the rear axle and the frame. n

It will be understood, however, that the present invention is not limited to the use of semi-elliptical springs, but that other.

. multiple-leaf springs may be used if desired.

The present invention is intendedto create friction between the leaves of a multiple-leaf spring and to yieldingly resist longitudinal movement ofthe leaves. One form ofthe structure for laccomplishing this result is shown in, Figures 1 to l0 of the drawings,

while modified fornisare sho-wn in Figures A11 to 111, inclusive.

Referringy particularly to VFigures 1 to 10, inclusive, itwill vbe, seen that Aa fitting 15 is provided.

edges `by an rip-turned flange 17, thus forining a rectangular vpocket into which a. resilieut pad 18 may be seated. The resilient pad is formed with a plurality of steps or block portions. The number of these steps may be varied to suit requirement.V However, iu Figures 3 Vand 6 these stepsarefindicated as being three in number and are indicated by the reference numerals 19, 9.0 and21. In Figure 7 of the drawing Athere are only two steps of the resilient pad shown .indicated by the numerals A19 and 20.

This pad is preferably'made of rubber which has coiisideiableresilience. The steps or separate blocks 19, 20 and 21 vary iii height in direct proportion to the variation in the thicknesses of the leaves of the spring. By particular reference to VFigures Sand 6 it will thereforebe seen that the lower. step will engage the spring leaf 22, the next suchis fitting comprises a base `plat-e716 which is b oundedlalong its marginal.

ceeding step will engage the ovehanging spring leaf 28, and the block 21 will engage the next succeeding ovei'hanging leaf 2li.

For reasons which will be hereinafter set forth, the blocks of the pad are united along their base portions and are separated above the base plate as indicated atcand 26. The

f platel with pad `18 seated thereupon. is clamped against the graduated overlapping faces of the lspringleaves by a U-bolt 27fas shown-in Fiduresit, 5, Gand 7 of the d .awings,*while other clamping meansv are provided for the form shown in Figure 8 of the drawiiigs.y.;y In :any event, the clamp structure embraces thespring and places the blocks vof the resilient pad under uniform compression so that they will exert a constant pressure againstthe respective-'spring leaves and will create a definite sliding friction between the n leaves when theleaves slide longitudinally relative toV each other ,during deflection.'A The shifting movement of the individual leaves 'is also resisted when the leavesy are deflected,

due to the 'frictional engagement of the resilient'blocks Vwith the under `faces of the leaves land in a manner to make it necessary for the leaves to distort the blocks andto move. against this resistance. k.The fitting 15 is lie-ld in place and prevented from laterally'shifting on the springs bymeans of side guides 27( and 28. These guides are here shown as being segments of a-circleand asserving the dual purpose of centering the'snubber upon the yspring and alsoneatly concealing the VU-bolt 27 which extends downwardly along opposite sides of the spring and through the base of the-fitting 15. By reference to-Figure 4 of the drawing it will be seen that the vertical edges 29 of the guides 27 and 28 extend parallel to each other and along. opposite sides of the Y spring leaveswhere they are held when the U-bolts are clamped in position. The U-bolts are preferably fitted with relatively long yacorn nuts 30 which are threaded a suliicient distance to permit'considerable take-,up to be had when adjustn'ient is required. It will also be understood that the fitting 15 is suitably by .the tension of the'tightened U-bolt or other act-ion incident tothe operation of the springs.

Vluthe forni of the invention shownin' Figure 6 of the drawing, the base plate 1G is stepped .correspondingly with the variation iii height of thefaces of the resilient blocks and in this v webbed and braced so that there will not be .any breaking strain imposed upon the litting manner some of the resilient material is censerved.

By referring to Figure 7 of the drawing, it will be seen that a snubber is provided of relatively short dimension, since in application upon the Ford type of car it is only necessary to act against two springs.l It will be found apparent that since the graduated Vsprings are reversed in position as compared with the lmultiple-leaf springs shown in Figure 1 of l plate 32.

the dra-wing, the snubber will'of necessity be reversed. and Will be placed upon the-topfof the spring.

lnv the use, of the present invention With springs designed forheavy duty,-it has ,been foiinddesirable to create ka yieldable'pressiii-e upon opposite sides of the spring. For tlia-tcreason, an auxiliary resilient padl is mounted upon the upper long-leaf of the spring and is held in position by a clamping This plateis foi'niedwith overf hanging sideiineinbers 33 agreeing substantially in form and deinensions Withthe members 2T and i8 of the. loiver fit-ting and serv-- ing the samepiirpose in thatrthe fitting and plate will .be lieldra-gainst lateral twisting movement By the use of the iittinglf) and the plate 32 it isipossibleto .eliminate the U- bolt 27 and to provide a pair ofstraight bolts Siand 3 5, which pass dou-'n through the mein- "bers and along opposite sides ofthe spring.

Attention is further directed to the fact that if desired the blocks may be completely sepamember l'and the` face' of a spring leaf.

rated and spaced apartrby webs 36 formed-in i This. clampingrdevice is VVinountedfupon the spring 4iiia manner. to create'frietional coiitact'betiveen tivoiof the'leaves. e Inth'e structure shown iii Figurel 12 substantially the same thing is true with' theaddition that a resilient spring -38 is clamped against the leafion one side and holdsA a block ofresilient Vsprings against one of the leaves onl the op- 'hposite sideof the spring. Figures 13 and lll show avmodiication of the invention in which a; gravity` operated pendulum` member 39 Vswings downwardly on 4rebound in the `car to create friction between the leaves, and this nieiiiber co-operatesiW-ith the resilieiitblocl; 4i() designed to increasingly resist theshift- ,inginovenient of the leaves goii Arebound of the. springs. Y y In operation of the present invention, the

"sniibber is applied to the spring in a manner leest. suited to the design ofy the spring and vtlieload'intended to be'carried thereby.U It

lhas beeiiifoiind in practise thatit is desirable to place the snubber enit-lie outer halves of the springs extending from the axles to the spV nig `hornsandit has also'been found desii-ableA to place the snubber of the front sprinos ata point closer to the ends ofthe springs-*than the snubbers are placed on the rear springs. lt will thus he apparent that experiment lias proven that `variation iii action may be obtained by varying the rela tive positions of the siiubbersin tlieii'apelusive, theifaces on the spring leaves against Whiclithe-resilient blocks are-torbeai are first plieationupoii the springs. Iiithe form of the-invention slioivnin Figures l told; ri-

`the spring blocks yand thepspringV leaves against which they are clamped.V It is to be vblocks bearing thereagainst. `Whena spring eaelijether, Y y to; distort and shift the resiliente blocks Will Vbe[resisted by the compression of the blocks 27-0r`the boltst and 35,. In 'practise 'it is found that after the spring blocks have been thus clamped against the face of the springs, theywvillfrictioiially engage .the sameV and normal operationof the spring will notcause anyy relative movement between the faces of understood that the bolts create a desired Y compression of the resilient blocks which will of. necessity slightly deform the blocks as P Aindicatedin Figure y5 (,ifvt'lieA draivingre ByVY this constant yielding pressure, the springs Aagainst Whichtl'ie resilientV blocks rest,Y a-S fivell as all ofthe springs embraced by the YU-bolts or the plate and bolts of .Figurel0,

A Will be clamped together in a mass Wliichvvill y permit them to' slide relative l to' each other` during deiiectionof the spring, but against frictional resistance causedby the resilient is deflected, therefore,. on the down stroke,-

` the Weight ofthe Acarvvill overeoniethe ,-f ric-V tion existing between leaves 1 and 'Willcaiise the spring to readilydeflect Vunder the-shook of impact. -Whem however, thereboundof i" the spring takes place, the action `vvilhnotV be accompanied by suchviolent-force asienv the dowii'stroke andk thefriction betvveen` i the `springleavesas caused-bythe resilient block Willtend to retardthe rebound ofthe Y spring `and cause. itto return to its normal Attentiop is also directed to the fact that`V Vposition With aimiiiimum shock 'to the frame. Y

whenany shifting movement takes place Ibef tween the leaves against Which the blocks bear, the upwardly projecting and separated portions of the blocks will be distorted :and shifted in the direction of movement of lthe leaves. This l distortion must be brought about'in a mass of rubber which is under compression and diie .to the'fact that the contact-l V`ing faces ofthe leavesand tlie'resilieiit bloeks have negligible movementl with relation to it will be evideiitithat any` force themselves. In this iiiaiiiieiv the. resilient blocks Willforiii the double purpose-of creatf iiig-iyieldable friction betiveeiik the spring Vleaves 'aiidzalso resistiiifiv theindividual shiftizo disclosed provides a simple structure adapt' 'i edgto-*bemoiinted upon the inultipleleaves of vehicle springs Withoutl alteration or re,-

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CAV

placement of parts, and which 'will act to createa positive and desirable resistance to spring rebound, thereby increasing therid` ing qualities of the car and eliminating objectionable vibration which would otherwise lbey imparted to the parts of the `vehicle struc- Vwithout departing from the spirit of theY invention as claimed.

Having thus described my invention, what `I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- Y l. In combination witha multi-leaf spring,

Ya plurality ofV resilient members separately.

rearing against the exposed overlapping faces of the spring leaves, and vmeans for clamping said members against said exposed faces whereby yieldable friction'will be produced'between the contacting aces of the severalleaves.

2. In combination wit-ha multi-leaf sprino,

a plurality of resilient members separately bearing against the exposed overlapping faces of the spring leaves, and means for clamping said members against said exposed faces whereby longitudinal movement of the leaves with relation to each other will be resisted.

3. In combination with a multi-leaf spring,

plurality Vof 'resilient members .separately bearing` against the exposed overlapping faces of the spring leaves, and means for clamping said membersv against said exposed faces whereby yieldable friction will be prol Vduced between the contacting faces of the several leaves and whereby longitudinal movement of the leaves with relation to each other will be resisted 4. In combination with amulti-leaf vehicle spring, a resilient pad 'having a united base ,portion and a plurality of blocks projecting therefrom of graduated length, said blocks being formed with Aflat faces to contact againstsuccessive overlapping exposed faces of the vehicle Yspring' lea-ves, a plate disposed beneath the pad, and means embracing the spring and securing the faces of the block against the spring leaves. f

5. In combination with a multi-leaf vehicle spring, a resilient pad having a united. base portion Aand a plurality of blocks projecting therefrom of graduated length, said blocks being formed with Aflat faces to contact against successive overlapping exposed faces of the vehicle spring leaves, a plate disposed beneath the pad, means embracing the spring and securing the faces of the block against the spring leaves, and means forming a part ofthe plate for centering the plate uponthey spring and for preventing lateral or twisting movement thereof.`

jbetween the -to cushion the action-of said spring.

' 6. In vcombination with a multi-leaf vehicle spring, yieldable'means comprising a pad bearing firmly upon a substantial portion of a plurality .of leaves and means to clamp said leaves and pad together.

7. In combination with a multi-leaf vehicle spring,-means bearing `firmly upon a substantial portion of a plurality of leaves for individuallyresisting longitudinal movement of the separate spring leaves. n 8. In combinationrwith a multi-leafrveliicle spring, means embracing -a plurality of leavesfor individually. clamping them one against the other, and vmeans bearing upon ay substantial portion'and interposed between the individual. leaves and the clamping means for `creating yieldable friction between adjacent leaves.

9. In combination with amulti-le'af vehicle spring, means embracing a plurality of leaves for individually clamping them one against the other, and means having relatively large bearing surfaces interposed individual leaves and the clamping means for creating yieldable friction between adjacent leaves andfor yield- `ably resisting Vlongitudinal movement of the indiv idual leaves.

'10. In combination with a multi-leaf ve-V hicle spring, iiieanssembracingl a-plurality lof leaves for individually clamping them one against the other, and means having a plurality of separated relatively wide bearing surfaces interposed between the separate leaves and the clamping means for individually resisting longitudinal movement of the leaves. v j

ll. In combination with a vehicle spring having a plurality of leaves arranged in juxtaposition, adjustable clamping means embracing certain of said leaves, and resilient means between said clamping means and said sprin@ and directly contacting with the latter 12. In combination with a vehicle spring having a plurality of leaves arranged in juxtaposition, adjustable clamping means embracing certain of said leaves, and a padofresilient material between said f clamping means and said spring non-slidably c0ntact` `ing therewith whereby said pad will cushion the action of said spring.

13. In combination with a vehicle spring having a plurality of leaves of varying length arranged in juxtaposition, adjustable clamp" ing inea-ns embracing certain of said leaves, and resilient means disposed between said clamping means and said spring and contacting the exposed lends of a plurality of leaves,whereby yielding pressure may be variably applied to saidlast named leaves.

lll. In combination with a vehicle spring having a plurality of leaves of varying length arranged in juxtaposition, adjustable clamping means embracing certain of said leaves,

iii)

lill

and a resilient pad arranged between said means and the exposed ends of a plurality of leaves and non-slidably engaging said-leaves whereby longitudinal movement of said leaves is cushioned by said pad.

15. In combination with a vehicle springv having a plurality of leaves of varying length arranged in juxtapositiomof a pad of resili' y ent material directly and non-slidably contacting` with a portion of said spring whereby action of said spring` is cushioned byv saidl resilient material, and means to maintain said pad firmly in contact with said spring.

16. InV combination with a vehicle Vspring havinga plurality of leaves of varying length arranged in juxtaposition, ofl a pad of Yrubber directly and non-slidably contacting with a substantial "portion of saidl spring so that the action of said spring is cushioned by the rubber of said pad, andmeans to maintain said pad iirmly in Contact with said spring.

17. A snubber for a mnltieleaf vehicle spring comprising a plurality of resiliently yieldable sections of material, each section being of substantial area and adapted to firmly engage a dierent spring lear` to yieldingly and 'variably vresist relative longitudinal movement between thespring leaves.

18. A snubber for multi-leaf vehicle springs comprisinga resilient block having surfaces adapted to Contact directly withv a plurality of spring leaves, means to hold said block in iirm contact with said leaves whereby relative longitudinal movement between the leaves is yieldingly resisted.

A19. A snubber for multi-leaf vehicle springs, comprising a resilient block shaped to engage a plurality of spring leaves over aV substantial area of each of said leaves, said block being substantially resilient in a pluralityof directions, and meansto firmly press said block into direct contact with said leaves.

20. A snubber for a multiple leaf vehicle spring embodying a plurality of leaves bf varying lengths, the shorter leaves being rela tively free at their ends comprising resilient means contacting adjacent the relatively free ends of a plurality of the shorter leaves, and means surrounding'said leaves and a longer leaf to clamp said resilient means against said shorter leaves. v

Y ROLLIE B. FAGEOL. 

